Devest

I was thinking today. Odd, I know, but I figured I might share a few thoughts for the sake of posterity.
Have you ever realized how little time we spend with one another in this life? It's like nothing we ever know matters if there is no one to relate it to. In the reverse of that, there's nothing to relate to, if there's no one to relate to. An odd thought, I know, but what if we cared about the people we came across as much as we cared about what they could do for us? Honestly, if we have no definition outside of God, then we have no fear of helping others, right? And if you want to argue that God does not exist, or does not care, then the people you encounter are your only relation in this life. Let me rephrase, the intelligent, soul-possessing beings we encounter in this life are our only true evidence that the world exists outside ourselves. Shouldn't they make or break the difference, then?

Jesus died. Christian or no, there is no way on earth to deny the death of the historical figure of Jesus. We can argue it up and down the wall, but when we take it to the historians and the scientists, even they conclude: Jesus of Nazareth died in or around 33 A.D. Have we ever stopped an thought about that? Jesus, the Son of God, the command of God in the flesh, died. An eternal, ever-living, unchanging thing, died. Shouldn't we just step back and hold our breath? Shouldn't it mean more then just a man on another cross? All of history stopped for Him, the very foundations of the earth shook...and we can't even give it a second thought, because we know the ending:
Of course, He rose from the dead, so big deal if He died, right?
Not the point. Not even a scratch on its surface. Jesus died. The Father, perfect in unity with Him, turned away and poured His wrath upon His only Son, the very meaning of the universe, and the Son passed out of existence on this earth. Shouldn't that just make us want to stop and weep? The Son did. The earth did. His disciples did. What makes us so much different?

Jesus spent 33 years on this earth, and has gathered the largest following history has ever seen. I think that ought to make anyone, anywhere turn their head and listen to what He had to say, even 2000 years later. We have, most of us, spent less time on this earth, and still to less constructive virtue then Jesus. To the man that changed all of history, whether you believe in Him or not is irrelevant when it comes to that fact. Any historian can take a short glimpse of history and derive that if there was one man who had the greatest impact on the history of the world, it was Him. This being the case, perhaps He had something to say. Jesus wasted no moment on this earth seeking the greatest treasure the earth contained, and as He sought, He showed care and love to those around Him, to the point of pain and death. He cared enough to go without bed or comfort, because those H walked with, and those that would not walk with Him, meant more to Him then His own comfort. And how many of us this day have put our comfort, however insignificant and unnecessary, before others?
We spend so little time on this earth with other people, and we find so many things on this earth more important then them. That those few hours of sleep I didn't get because my sister needed to talk on the phone. That meal I might miss because I had to help someone move into their new house. That TV show I don't want to go without, but I may have to because Grandma's at the hospital again. That new video game I couldn't get right when it came out, because my girlfriend wanted to go to dinner. And on and on and on...insert selfish "obligation" here.
I had a good friend once tell me that we ought to start "devesting" in people. When I asked him what he meant he answered "many people invest in things to gain a profit of some kind or another, but Jesus gained no profit in what He did, He did it because He loved us, and He lost everything as a result. Sure, He ascended to Heaven in the end, but He had to endure God's wrath for us...and that is what broke the bank. I think it is time we started to follow Jesus' example and 'devest' in the people we love, expecting nothing back."
And I would agree with him, it's time for us, as Christians, to begin acting like Christians, and caring more for others then for our next, personal entrainment. Because personal entertainment passes away, and so do those we know in this life, and which side of the divide would you rather find them on, when you reach heaven? Cause it's not about being the one with the most converts...it's about caring enough to give without thought of reward, so that they might be right with God as well.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith,
Nathan